Papa Ralph

I was blessed to be able to make it to Tampa for Ralph Walker Sr.'s funeral today. It was very last minute because Zach was trying to stretch a way to get me here. Something in me just needed to see him again before he was "gone."

Of course, he was already gone when I got down here, but just to be able to see that physical shell he was in while on this Earth brought me peace. I could say, he's gone.

Papa Ralph was placed into my life (and soo many others) at the exact moment that I needed him and Gran Shirley. I needed Ralph's strong hugs and unfettering love. I had been hurt badly by the men in my life before going to college and that is exactly why I 'ran away' to Florida College. I didn't realize I was running to exactly the right place.

God knows exactly what we need and who we need at each point in our lives. I am so grateful that Papa Ralph was here on this Earth while I needed him. I still feel like I need him, but he was done with his work on this Earth, and boy did he do an amazing job.

If only we could all strive to be the Ralph Walker in someone else's life.

♥ Ashley

Joy

Sometimes there are just no words to describe the depths of your soul. Somethings in life hit you so hard there just isn't anything to say.

My two favorite places are both in Florida: Disney World and the Walker's home. While I was attending Florida College I worshipped with Ralph Sr. and Shirley Walker. From the first time I met them I knew they were special. They both genuinely care for each and every person they meet. Shirley is an amazing cook and Ralph was an amazing hugger. He hugged you like you were his pride and joy. He made you feel warm, welcome, comforted, strengthened, cared for, and loved all in just one hug. He gripped you so tightly so that you would know you were loved.

I've taken for granted these two places of unending joy. I've just assumed they would always be there for me to come back to and enjoy. Well, Thursday part of my happiest place on Earth was taken to his happiest place imaginable. When I heard the news I felt a void. I can still feel my hug from last July, but can it last me the rest of my life? I wasn't ready for that to be my last one.

Joy comes in many different forms and I was blessed enough to have known a real life walking, talking, and hugging chunk of joy. There isn't any other way to express what Mr. Ralph Walker Sr. was. He was joy. I only hope that a tiny bit of that joy was passed on to me so I can share it with someone else who never got to meet joy face to face.

Can't wait to get to see him again one day. Thank you, God, for the blessing of see you laters instead of goodbyes.

♥ Ashley

God is Huge

Tonight, as I was driving home from work, I couldn't help but stare at the moon. It was amazing tonight! It was a crescent shape and a deep yellow; and it looked massive!! As I looked at it, it hit me just how huge the moon really is. It's not just a circle up in our sky; it's a sphere! I don't know why it hit me so hard tonight. The shading was just perfect and you could tell it was definitely a 3-D object.

We are so tiny compared to everything that God has created. It is so awesome to just stop and think about how minuscule we really are. God allowed His only Son to come down to this teensie little place and die for all of us teenie little people. That is so astonishing.

Wow. Our God is HUGE!

♥ Ashley

$$ FYI $$

I hope this doesn't come across as bitter because I'm not at all bitter about any of my guests tips; but I wanted to write a quick post about tipping. Yes, I know, I'm a waitress right now so I might be a little bias, but I know that before I started waitressing again I really didn't know the 'correct' way to tip. So, I thought I would just make a few points, bc I had a table leave me zero dollars today, and everything went great with their dinner...... So, here we go...

1. When I was hired I was told that a 'normal' tip is 20% and if I receive lower than that then I could have done a better job. {Some servers get really depressed about their performance if they don't receive 20% from each table; I am not one of them but a lot of my coworkers are.}

2. If there are two people at your table leave at the least $5.00 even if it's more than 20%.

3. When you leave 10% our managers take that as if we did something wrong.

4. The computer system calculates your cash tips made for the night by 20% of your cash sales. So if a guest leaves less than a 20% cash tip we are paying taxes on all 20%, generally.

5. Servers have to give some of their tips to the bartender and the hosts. So if you order a lot of drinks from the bar leave an extra few dollars bc we'll be paying the bartender for making those drinks.

6. Most of my coworkers aren't there for 'extra' money this is their full time job and they are making $2.00 an hour so definitely remember that when tipping.

7. If you come in 5 minutes before close and say how sorry you are and then don't leave a tip, it is taken as a slap in the face... We were there at least 45 minutes longer bc you were there... {happened to me tonight and I didn't feel anger just shock}.

And I'm done. :o) I seriously didn't know that 20% was considered a normal or an average tip until I was told this when I started working a few months ago. Most guests still think 10% is normal and that leaving that amount means I did a good job. Some servers do get upset by this, I'm not one of them. I'm just thankful to have a job and I just don't want all of those tippers in one night. :o)

♥ Ashley

According to Plan

Lately, I've found myself saying, "Well, if everything was going according to the plan..." yada, yada, yada. According to the plan?! What plan? Or better yet whose plan? Oh, that's right, I'm putting myself in charge of everything. How incredibly selfish of me.

This life, even, my life, isn't about me. It's about God. What does God want me to do? Where does God want me to go? What does God want me to say? I need to remember this when I'm thinking everything is not going according to my plan. I need to realize that maybe it isn't going the way I planned it, but maybe it's going exactly how God planned it.

So, remember, if you're thinking everything is messing up and not going according to 'the plan', maybe you're right on track with God's plan; you just can't see it yet.

"For I know the plans I have made for you. Declares the LORD. To prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jer. 29:11

God's plan for you is so much greater than anything you could ever dream up!

♥ Ashley

Life

Sometimes life just wants to throw you a curve ball! But you know what I'm going to swing!! Take that!!

God is so good to us! Really to anyone who is reading this. You have the Internet? Then you're blessed! Did you have something to eat today? Then you're blessed. I sometimes forget that my basic needs are being met and get caught up worrying about other wants that I don't have. God has truly blessed each and everyone of us.

He sent me a reminder a couple weeks ago in the form of a bird, a red bird. Red birds always remind me of my dad, and when I see them I think God's sending me a little encouragement. :o)

♥ Ashley

Teacher Moment

So, right now I am Adasen's teacher for Sunday school. This is one of my absolute favorite things to do!! This quarter I just started having a memory verse for them to do, for the first time (they are 3). So, tonight during bath time Adasen was reading a book to Owen and I heard him say his memory verse!! It was soo great!!! I was such a proud Mommy, but mainly teacher since we have only practiced during class. :o). I love being a teacher, and a Mom I guess. ;o)

♥ Ashley

Open Road

I feel like we, as a family, are at a fork in the road only there are, like, 20 different directions we could take!! It's a bit overwhelming!

Zach lost is 'must money coming in' job in January and hasn't been able to find a job to replace that one since then. I started working as a waitress in April to fill in the money holes. I've actually liked going back to work, although it was a huge adjustment at first, for me and the boys.

It is so hard to see which way God is pulling us! Does He want me to work full time or does He want Zach to?( Does He want us to stay in KC or go somewhere else and start up there... I need to just take a deep breath and step back from all the decision making and try to think, what will bring God the most glory? I haven't truly done this yet and I need to.

Sometimes when the people around us seem to be backing up and not being as encouraging as in the past, it's more scary to make decisions. But as long as God is behind us and encouraging us in His way then everything will be fine; everything will be fine!

I need to keep reminding myself.

"For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" 2 Cor. 4:17

♥ Ashley